The Crosby, Nightclub Next to Site of Kim Pham Beating Death, to Close

I thought it was strange late Tuesday night to see mournful photos and posts on social media regarding The Crosby, the nightclub/restaurant outside where Kim Pham was beaten to death Jan. 18. It seemed callous, especially so soon after Pham's death.

Wednesday morning, I finally realized the reason for the posts: The Crosby is closing for good in the wake of Pham's death. It's a stunning move that's jolting downtown Santa Ana and will have repercussions in the area--where city officials have poured millions of dollars to make it attractive for out-of-towners--for years to come.

No official announcement has been made by Crosby owners Chris Alfaro, Phil Nisco, and Marc Yamaoka, but sources close to the Crosby have confirmed its closing, and Crosby fans are posting their condolences on the Facebook pages of the owners. The Crosby hasn't opened since the night of Pham's beating, and no reason is being given at the moment--but a press release is expected.

The closing of the Crosby will also reverberate in the world of food and music. We named them Best Restaurant a couple of years back in our Best Of issue, and the Crosby's connections with the music world through Alfaro's Free the Robots made it an internationally famous night spot. We'll have eulogies for its food and music legacy over at Stick a Fork in It and Heard Mentality later. In the meanwhile, read our 2007 cover story on the tough time it had opening. And stay tuned here for any developments.